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Book .-C^3 f ^ 



p35j 



REPORT 

Of the Committee on Kaval Jiffairs, on the petition of Captain Samuel 
C. Reidy accompanied with a bill uuthonzing a sum of money to 
distributed among the oncers and crew of the Itite private armtd 
Sfig the General Armstrong. 



March i, 1818. 

Iltad, arid with the BUI committed to a committee of the whole House on Monday 

next. 



The Committee on Naval affairs, to whom was referred the petition 
of Samuel C. Ueid, captain of the late private armed brig the 
General Armstrong, on behalf of himself, the officers and cre\T 
of the said brig, 

REPORT: 

It appears from the petition, and other documents, that the cir- 
cumstances which gave rise to the application, were in substance the 
following: — Captain Reid in the private armed brig the General Arm. 
strong, of seven guns and ninety men, left the port of New York oa 
a cruise, early in September 181i; on the 'i^Gth of the same month 
they came to anchor in the port of Fayal, one of the Azores or Wes- 
tern Islands, belonging to the crown of Portugal; in the evening ot 
the same day, a British squadron consisting of the Plantagenet ot 74, 
the Rota of ii, and the Carnation of 18 guns, under the command of 
captain Lloyd, anchored in the same port; during the night, which 
was entirely clear, the moon near or at the full and shining brightly, 
which enabled the Americans to examine accurately, and observe dis- 
tinctly the movements of the enemy; four boats full of armed men 
were observed to be approaching the Armstrong, from the smallest 
of their vessels which lay near; Captain Reid hailed them repeatedly 
to know what were their views; no answer being returned, and the 
boats continuing to approach, orders were given to fire upon them, 
which were instantly obeyed with destructive effect, and after a short 
contest the boats retreated to their ships. It was soon discovered 
that the enemy were making preparations to renew the attack, which 
was commenced about midnight, with twelve or fourteen boats, con- 
taining as was supposed about -i^O men completely armei! and pre* 
pared. After a most obstinate, and on the part of the ejiemy bloody 



•it^-'r. .'^Cfr 1 



a [135] 

contest, which lasted about forty minutes, they were entirely fru3» 
trated in their attempts to carry the brig, and again retreated to their 
ships. In this second contest several of the enemy's boats were des. 
troyed, and two of them taken possession of by the crew of the Arm- 
strong, literally filled with dead. After the second retreat ot the 
enemy, the greatest exertions were used by the Americans to prepare 
their vessel for action in case of another attack. About this time, capt. 
Reid received a note from Mr. Dabney the American consul, request- 
ing to see him on shore; when he repaired thither, the consul inform- 
ed him tluu the Portuguese governor had addressed a note to the 
commander of the British squadron, protesting against his violating 
the neutrality of the port, and requiring him to cease from further 
outrage on those whom it was his duty to protect. To this note 
captain Lloyd returned a menacing reply, that he would take the 
Armstrong at every hazard, and if she was injured by her crew, he 
would consider the place as an enemy's port, and treat it accordingly. 
During the last action with the boats, the Armstrong lay within pis- 
tol shot of the castle. Captain Reid then returned on board his ves- 
sel, and about day-break a cannonade was commenced from one of 
the enemy's vessels on the Armstrong. Thus situated, finding the 
enemy determined to persevere in their outrage, and from the im- 
mense superiority of their force, knowing it would be impossible to 
save his vessel, captain Reid having due regard for the safety of his 
comrades who had so nobly supported him, determined to scuttle her 
and leave her; this he did, when she was immediately set on fire by 
the enemy and destroyed. In these several contests, from good in- 
formation, there is resson to believe the loss of the enemy, at a mo- 
derate calculation, amounted at least to 250 men in killed and wound- 
ed; that of the Americans was two killed and seven wounded. The 
petition further states, that this British squadron was on its way to 
the West Indies to join the force destined to make an attack on New- 
OrUans; that in consetjuence of the injury which they sustained, 
their junction was so much retarded, and the expedition so much de- 
lavvd, that the Americans had time to prepare for the defence of that 
plac;, which, but tor this circumstance, could probably not have been 
efle. ttd. J'he petition concludes with a prayer that Congress would 
bestow something on those who so gallantly defended the American 
flag, under circumstances so hopelees; and who io the contest lost 
really the whole of iheir little all. 

'J his case has engaged much of the attention of the committee. 
They do not believe that the annals of our government furnish a pre- 
ceaent of rewatds bestowed on men situated as were the crew of the 
Armstrong, noi in the public service. J'hey are fully aware also of 
th • weight attached, and justly attached to precedents which have 
be.'n settled on due consideration; it would, therefore, be with much 
rciucian<-e ihey would consent to establish one, to which an appeal 
nu'^ht be made in future cases, somewhat analagous in principle. 
But oti mature reilcction, apprehensions from the precedent which 



[135] 3 

may be established by this case, are much diminished. It will not be 
going too far, in the opinion of the committee, to say, that among all 
the achievements which embellish the annals of the late war, there 
was not one which surpassed that now under consideration. A few 
brave men in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, who had no personal 
interest in the preservation of the vessel they defended, and the mere 
preservation of which, without a miracle, must have been impractica- 
ble, could have been actuated by nothing short of the noblest motives 
which impel men to the achievement of valiant deeds; those motives 
could have been only their own honor and the glory of the fl?g under 
which they fought. They knew well the high value which was placed 
by their countrv on the rising reputation of their infant navy; they 
knew it was all-important that that reputation should be sustained by 
Americans in whatever situation they might be placed; and impelled 
by these generous motives, and these alone, they hazarded every thing 
to accomphsh their object. They succeeded; and though after two 
complete victories, the second gained under circumstances of the 
greatest inequality, they were ultimately obliged to yield to a superior 
force, yet the honor of the flag was supported, and the American cha- 
racter raised to an elevation calculated to produce the most beneficial 
effects. Should this Congress bestow on these gallant men some 
mark of their bounty, the committee think it would be well bestowed; 
and should it have the effect of producing similar exertions in future 
wars, and this precedent be pleaded in support of similar applications^ 
they do not believe tbe country will have cause to regret the applica- 
tion of a small sum to a purpose so beneficial. From all the circum- 
stances of the case, the committee recommend to the House, the 
passage of a bill herewith reported, to divide among the officers and 
crew of the Armstrong the sum of ten thousanii dollars. 



[135] 



To the honorable the Congress of the United States, in Senate and 
House of Representatives convened: The memorial of Samuel C. 
Heidy late commander of the private armed brig General Arm- 
strong, on behaf of the oncers and crew of the said vessel^ 

RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH: 

That on the 26th September 1814, the said vessel being at anchor 
in the port of Fayal, and having on board a crew of ninety men, and 
seven guns, was attacked by a superior force under the command of 
commodore Lloyd, and that the said vessel was finally burnt and de- 
stroyed. 

For the details of that action, your memorialist refers to the let- 
ter of John B. Dabney, Esq. then consul for the United States at 
Fayal to the Secretary of State, dated 5th October, 181i. 

It would not become your memorialist to speak of the merit (\lL 
any there was) of the officers and crew of the Armstrong in that ac- 
tion, lie may, nevertheless, be allowed to state as a fact, that the 
squadron with which they engaged, was a part ot that armament 
which was destined to make the descent upon New-Orleans, and that 
the injury sustained by this squadron in the action above mentioned, 
delayed for a time its junction with the fleet then in the West Indies, 
and thus retarded the progress of the expedition, which gave time 
for the brave Jackson to collect and arrange his forces. 

The officers and crew of the Armstrong do not arrogate to them- 
selves any personal merit, by reason of events and consequences 
\vhich ihey could not have foreseen. Yet, if by the faithful discharge 
of their duty as citizens, they have, under Providence, been the in- 
struments in effecting a great public good, they may hope thence tc 
dtiivc a fairer claim to the notice of their government. 

Your memorialist ou behalf of the said officers and crew, beg 
leave further to observe, that when they were attacked by a force so 
vastly superior, and when there was no longer a hope of successful 
rcsiscance, or of the preservation of the vessel, tliey would have been 
justiticd to the owners, and would perhaps have escaped the reproach- 
es ot their fellow citizens if they had abandoned their vessel, and 
sought only their personal safety. But they owed a duty to their 
country, and it was this impulse alone that could induce them t* 
make such a resistance at the expense of their lives and property, n» 
other object being in view; and they do hope, therefore, that their 
case may not be confounded with that of those who may have fought 
bravely from the mere prospect of gain. 

The officers and crew of the Armstrong had not the advantages 
of being in the immediate employ, nor ol enjoying the pay and emo- 
luments of government; yet they have been led to presume that a 



[135] 5 

service rendered to their countrvi is not the less meritorious for hav- 
ing beea performed without the obligation of contract^ or previous 
stipulation for reward. 

It may be true that valiant deeds are not to be rewarded with 
money, yet the practise of our own government, and that of every civi* 
lized nation in the old world, testifies their opinion, that sound policy 
requires, that the citizens or subjects who perform such deeds as at- 
•tract the noiioe of government, should not want the means of decent 
support; and C.)ngresshave deigned to bestow, and our naval heroes 
have not disdained to receive pecuniary reward for services they may 
have rendered their country in the destruction of men and ships of 
i-he enemy. 

It is with great reluctance and hesitation, that vour memorialist, 
the said Samue! C. Reid, claims the attention of Congress for him- 
self, he should have been forever silent, but he can no longer resist 
the importunities of those who were his associates in that action, nor 
be longer a passive witness to their poverty and distress, some of 
which feel the smart of their wounds to this day. 

The said officers and crew having lost most of their baggage and 
©ther necessaries, and having also suffered great privations and dis- 
tress, arrived in the United States about the close of the war, and 
owing to the embarrassments of commerce and navigation, have 
been unable by any exertions to procure lor themselves and fa- 
milies ;. bare subsistence; whence, far the greater part of them and 
tncir families, are now actually suffering from want. 

Your memorialist hath been led to believe, that these facts are 
unknown to Congress, and that it would not be deemed honorable to 
the nation or its government, that those whom the journals of Con- 
gress have thought proper to eulogize, should exist but in misery 
and distress in tiie bosom of their own country. 

SAMUEL C. REID, 



"¥• 



Copy of a ktler from our Consul at Faual, to the Secretary of State. 

Fa-YAL, 5th October ISl*. 
SIR, 

I have the honor to stat^to you that a most outrageous violation 
of the neutrality of this port, in utter contempt of the laws of civiliz- 
ed nations, has recently been committted here, hv the commanders 
of his Britannic majesty's ships IManieganet, llota and Carnation, 
against the American private armed brig General Armstrong, Sam. 
C Reid, commander, but I have great saiisHution in being able to 
add, thit ihis occurrence terminated in one of the moat LrlHiant ac- 
tions on the part of captain Reid, his brave oOicers and crew, that can 
he found on naval record. 



6 tl35] 

The American brig came to anchor in this port in the afternocn 
of the 26th of September, and at sun-set of the same day, the above 
named ships suddenly appeared in these roads; it being nearly calm in 
the port, was rather doubtful if the privateer could escape if she got un- 
der way, and relying on the justice and good faith of tJie British cap- 
tains, it was deemed most prudent to remain at anchor. A little after 
dusk captain l?eid, seeing some suspicious movements on the part of * 
the British, began to warp his vessel close under the guns of the cas* 
tie, and while doing so, he was at about eight o'clock P. M. approach 
td by four boats from the shipsfiUed with armed men. After hailing 
them repeatedly, and warning them to keep off, he ordered his men 
te fire on them and killed and wounded sereral men. The boats 
returned the fire and killed one man and wonnded the first Lieut, 
oi the privateer, and returned to their ships, and, as it was now 
light moonlight, it was plainly perceived from the brig as well as from 
the shore, that a formidable attack was premeditating. Soon after 
midnight, twelve or more large boats crowded with men from the 
ships and armed with carronades, swivels, and blunderbusses, small 
arms, he. attacked the brig; a severe contest ensued which lasted 
about forty minutes, and ended in the total defeat and partial des- 
truction of the boats, with a most unparalled carnage on the part of 
tlie British. It is estimated by good judges that near 400 men were 
in the boats when the attack commenced, and no doubt exists in the 
mind of the numerous spectators of the scene that more than half of 
them were killed or wounded; several boats were destroyed; two of 
them remained alongside of the brig literally loaded with their own 
tiead. From these two boats only 17 reached the shore alive; most 
of them were severely wounded. The whole of the following day 
the British were occcudied in burying their dead; among them were 
two lieutenants and one midshipman of the Rota — the first lieutenant 
ot the Plantagenet, it is said, cannot survive his wounds, and many 
of the seamen who reached their ships were mort;'lly wounded, and 
have been dving dailv. The British, mortified ii' this signal and un- 
expected defeat, endeavor to conceal the extent of the loss; they 
admit however that they lost in killed and who have died since the 
engagement, upwards of 120 of the flower of their officers and men. 
'I'he captain of the Rota told me he lost seventy men from his ship. 
Two days after this affair took place the British sloops of war Thais 
and Calypso came into port, when capt. Lloyd immediately took them 
into requisition to carry home the wounded officers and seamen — 
they have sailed for England, one on the 2d and the other on the ith 
instant, each carried twenty-five badly wounded. Those who were 
slightly wounded, to the number, as I am informed, ot about thirty, j 
remained on board tlieir respective ships, and sailed last evening for ' 
Jamaica. Strict orders were jriven that the sloops of war should 
take no letters whatever to England, and those orders were rigidly 
adhered to. 



[135] 7 

In face of the testimony of all Fayaland a number of respectable 
strangers who happened to be in this place at the moment, he British 
commander endeavors to throw the odium of this transaction on the 
American captain, Ueid, alledging that he sent boats merely to recon- 
noitre the brig, and without any hostile intention; the pilot of the 
port did inform them of the privateer the moment they entered the 
port. To reconnoitre an enemy's vessel in a friendly port, at night, 
with four boats, carrying by the best accounts 120 men, is certainly 
a strange proceeding! The fact is, they expected as the brig was 
warping in, that the Americans would not be prepared to receive 
them, and they had hopes of carrying her by a "" coup de main." If 
any thing could add to the baseness of this transaction on the part of 
the British commander, it is want of candor openly and boldly to 
jjvow the facts. In vain can he expect by such subterfuge to shield 
himself from the indignation of the world, and the merited resent- 
ment of his own government and nation for thus trampling on the 
sovereignty of their most ancient and faithful ally, and for the wanton 
cacrifice of British lives. 

On the part of the Americans the loss was comparatively nothing, 
two killed and seven slightly wounded; of the slain, we have to la- 
ment the loss of the second lieutenant Mr. Alexander O. AV'illiams of 
New York, a brave and meritorious officer. 

Among the wounded are Messrs. M orth and Johnson, first and 
third lieutenants; capt. Reid was thus deprived, early in the action, 
of the services of all his lieutenants; but his cool and intrepid con- 
duct secured him the victory. 

On the morning of the 27th ult. one of the British ships placed 
herself near the shoie and commenced a heavy cannonade on the 
privateer. Finding further resistance unavailing, capt. Reid ordered 
her to be abandoned after being partially destroyed, to prevent her 
falling into the hands of the enemy, who soon after sent their boats 
and set her on fire. 

At nine o'clock in the evening, (soon after the first attack) I ap- 
plied to the governor requesting his excellency to protect the privar 
teer cither by force or bv such remonstrance to the comrpantler of the 
squadron as would cause him to desist from any further attempt. 
The governor indignant at what had |;asscd, but feeling himself to, 
tally unable with the slender means he possessed, to resist such a 
force, took the part of remonstrati ">g, which he did in forcible but 
respectful terms. His letter to captain Llo\ d had no other effect thua 
to produce a menacing reply insultmg in the highe^^t di grce. >io- 
thing can exceed the indignation of the public authorities, as well 
as all ranks and description of persons here, at this unprovoked 
enormity. Such was the rage ot the British to destroy this vessel, 
that no regard was paid to the safety of the town: tome of the inha- 
bitants were wounded and a number of the lu.uses were much da- 
miged. The strongest representations on this subject are prepared. 
1»;X" the go\ ernor tor his court. 



a {;i55] 

Since this affair, the commander, Lloyd, threatened to send oa 
shore an armed force and arrest the privateer's crew, saying there 
were many Englishmen among them, and our poor fellows afraid of 
his vengeance have fled to the mountains several times and have been 
harassed extremely. At length captain Lloyd fearful of losing more 
men if he put his threats in execution, adopted this stratagem; he ad- 
dressed an official letter to the governor, stating that in the American 
crew were two men who deserted from his squadron in America, and 
as they were guilty of high treason, he required them to be found 
and given up. Accordingly a force was sent into the country, and 
the American seamen were arrested and brought to town, and as 
they could not designate the said pretended deserters, all the seamen 
here passed an examination of the British officers, but no such persons 
were to be found among them. I was requested by the governor 
and British consul to attend this humiliating examination, as was also 
captain lleid; but we declined to sanction by our presence any such 
proceedings. 

Captain Reid has protested against the British commanders of 
the squadron for the unwarrantable destruction of his vessel in a neu- 
tral and friendly port, as also against the government of Po^gal for 
their inability to protect him. 

No doubt this government will feel themselves bound to make 
ample indemnification to the owners, officers and crew of this vessel, 
for the great loss they have severally sustained. y 

1 shall as early as possible transmit a statement of this transac- 
tion to our mniister at Rio Janeiro for his government. 

I have the honor to be, 

"With great respect, sir. 

Your most obedient servant, 

JOIIN B. DABNEYv 

To the Secretary of State of U. S. 
f rushing fori. 



Fay at, 4th October 1814v 

With infinite regret 1 am constrained to say it has eventually 
fallen to my lot to state to you the loss and total destruction of the 
private armed brig General Armstrong, late under my command. 

We sailed from Sandy Uoc^k on the evening of the 9th ult. and 
about midnight fell in close aboard of a razee and ship of the line.- 
They pursued till next noon, when they thought proper to give over 
chase. On tlie llih, after a nine hours chase, boarded the private 
armed Schooner l»erry, John Colman, 6 days from Philadelphia; had 
thrown over all his guns. On the following day fell in with an cne- 
my'sgnn brig; exrhiinged a few shots with him, and left him. On 
the 24ih^ boarded a Spanish brig and schooner, and a Portuguese 



[135] 9 

<jttip, all from the Ilavanna. Oi. the 26th following, came l4o in Fayal 
Roads, for the purpose of filling water; called on the American con- 
sul, who very politely ordered our water immediately- scut oft", 
it being our intention to proceed to sea earl\ the ni xt dav. At .'> P. 
M. I went on board, the c it.sul and some other gentle men in com- 
pany. I asked some questions concerning c.emy's cruizers, ai'd was 
told there had been none at these islands for several week5; whea 
about dusk, while we were conversing, the British brig Carnation 
suddenly hove in sight close und-r tho N. E head oi the harbour, 
within gun shot when first discovered. 

The idea of getting under way was instantly suggested; but 
findr.ig the enemy's brig had ttie adv^mtage of a bre-^ze and t)ut little 
wind with us, it was thoui^lit doubtful if sv..- should be able to get to 
sea without hazarding an action. I questioned the consul to kn(;u- if 
in his opmion the enemy would regard the neutraliiv of the port? 
He gave me to understand I might make myself perfectly eas\ . assu- 
ring me at the same time thev would never molcsi us while at anchor. 
But no sooner did the enemx's brig understand from the pilot-boat 
wh'. we were, when she immediately hauled close in and let go her 
anchor within pistol shot of us. Atth,^ same moment the I'lantage- 
iietand frigate Rota, hove in sight to whom the Carnation ins.andy 
made signal, and a constant interchange took place for some time. 
The result was, ihe Carnation proceeded to throw out all her boats; 
despatched one on board the commodore, and appeared otherwise to 
be making unusual exertions. From these circumstances 1 ijegan to 
suspect their real intentions. The moon was near its iuU, which 
enabled us to observe them very minutely; and I now determined to 
haul in nearer the shore. Accordingly, after clearing tor action, we 
got under way, and began to sweep in. The moment this was ob- 
served by the enemj 's brig, she instandy cut her cable, made sail, 
and despatched four boats in pursuit of us Being now about 8 P. M. 
as soon as we saw the boats approaching^ we let go our anchor, got 
springs on our cable, antl prepared to receive them. 1 hailed them 
repeatedly as they drew near, but tb.ey felt no inclination to reply. 
Sure of their game, they only pulled up with the greater speed. I 
observed the boats were well manned, and apparently as well armed; 
and as soon as they cleverly got alongside, we opened our fire, wh.ich 
was as soon returned; but meeting with rather a warmer reception 
than they had probablvbeen aware of, they very soon cried tor quar- 
ters and hauled ofl". In this skirmish I had one man kill-.d snd my first 
lieutenant wounded. '1 he enemy*.- loss must have been upwards of 
twenty killed and wounded. 

They had now repaired to their ships to prepare for a more for- 
midable attack. U'e, in the interim having taken the hint, pe[)arcd 
to haul close in to the beach, where we moored head and stern within 
halt pistol shot of the castle. I'his done, we again prer)ared in the 
best possible manner for their second reception. About 9 i*. 31. we 
obsierved the enemy's brig towing in a large fl^ct of boais. They 
2 ' 



lb [135] 

<BOon after left the Brig and took their nation in three divisions, under 
covert of a shjoII r. i ot rocks with n about lausket shot of us. 
Hert- tliey cont'iou-. d manoeuvring for <:ome tim«^ the brig still keep- 
ing under vvav to act with 'he boats, should we at any lime attentipt 
our escape. 

The bhores were lined with the inhabitants, waiting the expected 
attackj and from tne brightness of the moon, they had a most favor- 
able view of the scene The governor, with most of the first people 
of the place, st^od by and saw the whole affair. 

At length, abou: midrigh we observed the boats in motion, 
(our crew hnving la^d at iheii quarters during the whole of this in- 
terval.j "^rhey came on in one direct line, keeping in close order; 
and we t-i-iinly counted twelve b jits. As soon as they came within, 
proper ui:.tance we opened our fire, which was warmly returned from 
the enemy's carronaJ.es and small arms. The discharge from our 
Long '» Mm rather s*:>R'seied them; l-at soon reconnoitering, they 
gav<r three cheers, and came on mo.-,t spiritedlv. In a moment they 
succeeded in cainin,':^ our bow and stari; mid quarter, and the word 
was Board. Our great guns no\v becom"; ;g useless, we attacked them 
sword in l^and, together with our pike-, pistols, and musketry, from 
which our iads poured on them a most destructive fire. The enemy 
made frequent and repeated attempts to g-^in our decks, but were re- 
j)u:sed at all times, imd in all points, with the greatest slaughter. — 
About the middle of thr- action I received intelligence of the death of 
my second lieutenant; and soon after of the third lieutenant being 
badh' wounded. From this and other causes, I found our fire had 
much slackened on the forecastle; and, fearful of the event, 1 instant- 
ly rallied the whole of our after division, who had been bravely de- 
fending and now had succeeded in beating the boats off the quarters. 
They gHve a shout, rushed forward, ojiened a fresh fire, and soon 
alter decided the conflict, which terminated in the total defeat ot the 
enemy, and the loss of many of their boats; two of which, belonging 
to the Rota, we rook possession of. literally loaded with their own 
d -ad. Seventeen onlv escaped from them both, who had swam to 
the shore. n another boat unler our quarter, commanded by one 
of the beui-inants of the i^iani.agenec. ail \vere killed sfving four. 
This I have from the lieutenavr, hims'-lf, who further told me that he 
jumped over b'^ird to save hu. own !ife. 

ih; duration of this acL .n was cbout forty minutes. Our decks 
were now ouihI in nju h confusi .,i, our Long Tom dismounted, and 
several of mr crjriT^r •- broken; many of our crew having left the 
vessel, and c)ihcrs uisahU-d Under these cn-cumstances, however, 
We sueceedi d in gctti- v i.-"--g Toii. ;:-. his birth and the decks clear- 
ed in some sort fc: • !res!i action, should the enemy attack us agaiu 
bef;r« (i. -slight. .\b uiL V. M I received a message from the 
Arnericju consul, request"'""^ to see me on shore, when he informed 
me the rovernwr bad ^e-v a noe to captain Llo\d, begg'ng him to 
desist from furiher hostilities. To \vhich captain Lloyd sent for an- 



[135] 



11 



swer, that he was now determined to have the privateer at the risk 
of knocking down the whole town; and that if the governor suffered 
the Americans to i ijure the pnvatoer in any manner, he should con- 
sider the place an enemv's port and treat it accordingly. Finding 
this to be the case, ! con>)idtrcd all hoijes of saving our vessel to be 
at an end I therefore went on board, and ordered all our wounded 
and dead to be taken on shore, and the crew to save their effects as 
fast as possible. Soon after this it became daylight, when the enemy's 
brig stood close in, and commenced a heav\ fire on us with all her 
force. After several broadsides she hauled off, having received a • 
shot in her hull, her rigginp; much rut, and her foretopmist wounded; 
(of this I was informed Dy the British consul.) She so^n alter came 
in again, and anchored close to the privateer. I then ordered the 
Armstrong to be scuttled, to prevent the enemy from getting her off. 
She was soon after boarded by the enemy's boats, and set on fire, 
which soon completed her destruction. 

They have destroyed a number of houses in the town and 
wounded some (;f the inhabitants. 

By what I have been able to learn from the British consul and 
officers of the fleet, it appears there were about iOO officers and men 
in the last attack by the boats, of which 120 were killed and 
130 wounded. Captain Lloyd, 1 am told by the British consul is 
badly wounded in the leg; a jiiry of surgeons had been held, who 
gave as their opinion that amputation would be necessary to insure 
his life. Tis said, however, that the wound was occasioned by an 
Ox Ireading on him. The fleet has remained here about a week, du. 
ring which they have been principail) employed in burying their 
dead, and taking care of their wounded. 

Three days after the action they were joined by the ship Thais and 
brig Calypso, (^two sloops of war) who were immediately taken into 
requisition by captain Llo\d, to take home the wounded men. The 
Calypso sailed for England wuh part of the wounded, on the 2d ins«. 
among whom was the tirst lieutenant of the Plar.tagenet The Thais 
sails this evening with the remainder. Captam Lloyd's fleet sailed 
to-day, supposed for the West indies. 

I'he Ifjss on our part, I am happy to say is comparatively trifling; 
two killed and seven wounded. "\\ iih regard to my officeis in gene- 
ral 1 leel the greatest satisfaction in savi::g they one and all fought 
with the most determined bravery, and to whom I feel highly in- 
debted lor their (dhcerlikt conduct during the short period we were 
together; their exertions and ijraverv deserved a belter laic. 

1 here insert lor your inspection, a list of the killed and woundecL 

KILLED. 

Mr. Alexander (). Williams, second lieutenant, by a musket hall 
in the loreheiid, died instaniU ; iiurton Lloyd, seaman, do. thioi:gh 
tlie heart, do. 



12 [135] 

AVOUNDEl). 

Frederick A. Worth, first lieutenant, in the right side. 

Robert Johnson, third do. left knee, 

Basilla Hammond, quarter master, left arm, 

John Piner, seamen, knee, 

"William Castle, do. arm, 

Nicholas Scalsan, do. arm and leg, 

John Harrison, do. hands and face, by the explosion of a gun. 

It gives me much pleasure to announce to vou that our wounded 
are all in a fair way of recovery, through the unremitted care an^ 
attention of our worthy surgeon. 

Mr. Dabney, our consul, is a gentleman possessing every feeling 
of humanity, and to whom the utmost gratitude is due from us for 
his great care of the sick and wounded, and his pjlite attention to my 
officers and myself; 

JMr. "S"^ illiams was a most deserving and promising officer. His 
country, in him, has U-stone of its brightest ornaments; and his death 
must be sadly lamented by all who knew his worth. 

Accompanied with this you will find a copv of mv protest, toge- 
ther with copies of letters written by Mr. Dabne\ to the governor of 
Fayal, our minister at PJo Janeiro, and our Secretary of State. — 
These letters will develop more fully the circumstances of this un- 
fortunate affair. 

We expect to sail lo-morrow in a Portuguese brig for Amelia 
Island, who takes the wholf of our crew; till when, I remain gentle- 
men, your verv obedient humble servant, 

SAMLEL C. REID. 



fmxmiim 



